Pneumatic clamping tool



Dec. 27, 1927.

1,653,827 I C. P. TRIMBLE PNEUMATIC CLAMPING TOOL Filed June 54 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'V I 6 6 mgrgr fi (9 1 i za Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

PA ENT "OFFICE.

UNITED "STATES cnannns r. rniivrnnn, on rzrrsnunen, rnunsynvanra. ename T FORT. PITT BEDDING COMPANY,,OF PITTSBURGH, FENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPQRATION FENN SYLVr'LNIA.

rlvnulua'rro o AMrInG (noon.

This "invention relates toa pneumatic clamping tool and comprises a body, a-piston cylinder and a valve chamoer in the oody,a

piston in the cylinder and a manually. op

necessary to attach the clamps by use of a manually operated tool, such as a pair or specially constructed pliers, or by hammering the clamps in place. Among other objects OI so this invention is the provisionof a pneumaticv tool which is adapted for attaching thesecover holdingmeans in place conveniently and cheaply. By the device to be described, the clamps are easily and securely squeezed of the tool in closed position, the operator can work from one end to the other of a long clamp. Thisis a particularlyuseful feature as long clamps are not. generally used beno cause'of the difficulty of attaching them by the methods now in use. y

In the drawings I have shown one form of a specific embodiment of the invention.

tool 1 i Fig; 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the upper portion of Fig. 1; i i Fig. 3 is a section along-line 3-3 of Fig. 2; p i Fig. at is an enlarged perspective view of the valve stem:

Formed in the lower portion of the body is a piston cylinder 2 open at one end and arranged in the cylinder is a piston 8 mounted upon piston rod 4 and provided with leather packingoheld in place by disk or washer 6 and. nut Secured around the rod 4: is

a erated valve in the chamber, clamping jawsv into place and by keeping theclamping jaws Fig. is a plan view of the bumper plate a plan view of the mo\-'ableclainp- I spiral spring 8. Cylinder head 9 is screwed r ito the open end of the cylinder 2 and spring 8. causestlie nut 7 to abut againstthe cylinder headnLOne end of the piston rod 1 extends slidably through bushing 10 which may be screwed or pressed into the closed end of cylinder 2. Oil conduit 11 is provided through the bodyon bushing 10 for lubricatingpiston rod 4. Bumper plate '12 is conveniently attached to the'body by means oi screws, rivets or the like (not shown).

. Clamping jaw 13 is mounted at a point "between its ends on the bumper plate 12 by means of hinge pin 1 1 passing through the lugs 15 on the bumper plate. Oneendo f the clamping jaw 13 is provided with a shaped portion 16 of such a form as may be suitable forthe work desired. The other end of the clamping jaw 1s cut away to form a substantially U-shaped yoke 17; near the ends of which are formed vertical slots 18. The yoke 17. is connected to piston rod 4: by hinge pin .19 passing through slots 18 andthrough one end of the piston rod 4. Hinge pins 14 and 19 are provided with suitable cotter pins or the like {not shown) for holding them in place. Suitable washers may be used in making the pivotal connections described, Mounted upon the cylinder head 9 by means of screws or the like is handle 20 adapted to begrasped by theoperator. Ifdesired the cylinder 2 may be provided with sleeve bush- 1 ing 21 of brass or other friction metal.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section partly in elevation through the complete inlet nipple 23 and valve stem 24. Valve stein 2a is provided at one end with a valve head25 adapted to seat on bushing 26 to i make an air tight joint therewith. Upon the other end of the valve stem is provided thumb button 27 suitably beveled as at 28 so as to register with beveled'edge 29 of bush-- ing130to make an air tight joint when edges 28and 29 contact. Coiled spring 31: is provided around the thumb nut for keeping the valve normally in closed positionwith valve head 25 seated o n bushing 26. The lower side of'the central portionof the valve stem is beveled away at 32 to provide apassage between the ends of the valve chamber. Suitable pins 33' are provided for holding the thumb button 27 andvalve head 25 upon the valve stem. Access is had to the interior of the valve c m e byy s than the jaws of the tool and while the is SllPPBLlrOVBlY the cover and border frame.

The clamping tool is applied to the clamp in such a; manner-that the clamp lies be tween the bumper plate 12 and the clamping jaw 13,1110 bumper plate being on the routside of the. seat. .The thumb button 27 is pushed in and with it. the valve stem 24 and. valve; head 25. The beveled end: 28 a of the thumb nut will seatupon the edge 29 of the bushing30 and connnunication will be established between a suitable source of pressure, not shown, connected to the inlet nipple 23, through the valve chamber 22 and throughthe conduit 35 to the chamber 2. Pressure WllLtlIQIGlJY be exerted upon the piston 3, the) piston rod will be forced out wardly and through hingefpin 19 force will be exerted upon the clamping jaw 13 so,

as toforce the end 16'thereofinto proximity to the lower endof the, bumper plate 12.

Since the clamp is held between the :jaw

and the bumper plate itwill be bent tightly iLl'Olllldj the 'JOICll frame to securelyhold the.- eover in place. With a clamp longer valve isstill open, the operator may Work the tool from one end to the other of the clamp by using a slight oscillatory motion ofthe hand, and in this Way will. be able to cause ahniore secure clamping-action of thet clamp upon the cover quickly and con-i L veniently.

After the clamp has been applied and is v securely held in place the operator releases thumb button 27' whereupon the coil spring 31 forces-the thumb button and valve stem 1 outwardly seatingvalve head 25 against bushing 26 and thereby cutting off the air under pressure from the cylinder 2. Simultaneously with the shutting off ofthe air supply the beveled edge 28 of the thumb abutton is separatedfrom its engagement:

with bevel 29 bythe outward movement of the thumb and communication is established between cylinder 2 and the; atmosphere through conduit 35 andtheyexhaust port 36.

The coil spring 8 will force the piston back toits normal position, openingtheclamping jaw? 13 and the tool; is then ready for further HEEL l, g i Whileithe; operation of the clamping; tool; has been particularly described as applied to the clamping of cover holding means upon cushion seats, it is (piite apparent that by properly shaping the clamping jaw 13 and the bumper plate 12 the toolmay be adapted to be used in clamping auv other elements desired, such, for instance, as for clamping spring supporting bars or the like around a border frame or the like.

that L; claim is:

1. A pneumatic clamping tool comprising a body. portion, a piston cylinder; and a valve chamber in the body portion. a piston in the cylinder, at. manually-operatcd valve in the chamber clamping ants on the body portion, connections between the piston and one of the clamping jaws for operating the latter, a handle on the outside of: the body portion,

an inlet to the valve chamber for fluid under pressure and conduits ion leading the fluid under pressure to one side of the piston,

A pneumatic clamping tool comprising a body portion, apiston! cylinder and a valve chamber inthe body portion, a piston in the cylinder, a manually operated valve stem in the chamber having a flattened portion be? tween itsends, a bumper plate attached to one end of the bod} portion, a clamping jaw pivotally mountediontherbumpcr plate and connected at one end. to the. piston, a handle on the opposite end or the body pm tion, an inlet to the valve chamber for fluid under pressure. and conduits; for leading the ill Fifi

fluid under pressureito one. side of the piston.

A pneumaticclamping tool comprising a body portion, a pistonicylinder and avalve chain-berm the body portion, a piston in the cylinder, bushings in the valve chamber, a manually operated valve stem in the/ chamber having a; flattened portion between its ends and having; valve heads on its ends adapted to alternately seat upon the hushings, a bumper plate.- attached to one end of the body portion, a clamping jaumpivotallv mounted on the bumpon plate and connected "at one end to the, piston, a handle on the oppositeend of the body portion, an inlet to the valve. chamhenforfluid under pressure and condmts for leadlntr the, fluid; under pressure to one side of the piston.

l. A pneumatic clamping tool conuprising a hodyportiom a piston cylinder andavalvc chamber in the body portion. a piston in the cylinder. amanually operated valve stem in the chamber, a bumper plate attached to onerend of the body portion having upstanding lugs and a flat anvil surface adjacent the lugs-,a clalnping jaw pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the lugs, said jaw having a concave end, opposite theuanvil surfiace and connected at the other end to the piston, a handle on the body, and an inlet. to, the valve chamben foe fluid, under pressure andcond-uits for leading the, fluid under pressure to one side, of the; piston.

5, A pneumatic clamping tool comprising a cylinder, a piston head in the cylinder, a piston rod attached to the piston head and extending through one end of the cylinder, a spring in the cylinder around the rod, a bumper plate attachedto the outside of the cylinder,' a pivoted clamping jaw connected to the outside end of the rod and arranged to co-act with the bumper plate. a longitudinal valve chamber in the cylinder wall,

a manually-operated valve stem in the chamber, an inlet for fluid under pressure at one end of the chanfiber, an exhaust near the ing a second clamping jaw intermediate its ends, a piston stein extending through said cylinder and pivotally connected with the upper end of said movable clamping jaw, the lower end of said movable clamping jaw beingshaped to coact with said fixed clamping jaw in a clamping operation.

7. In a pneumatic clamping tool, a fluid niotor comprising a cylinder and piston and a piston stein extending through one end of said cylinder, a movable jaw pivotally con-' nected at its upper end to the end oi said piston stein, a depending fixed jaw aflixed to the end of the cylinder and provided with spaced ears between which the movable jaw extends, and means pivotally connecting the Inovable jaw intermediate its ends with the spaced ears of said fixed jaw whereby it coacts with said fixed jaw in a clamping operation.

In'testimony whereoLI have hereunto affixed any signature.

CHARLES P. TRIMBLE. 

